Frontrunners Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren played safe; neither aimed a meaningful blow at the other
IF ONLY THE winnowing would happen faster. For the fifth televised Democratic debate, broadcast from Georgia, ten candidates lined up dutifully on stage, each behind a dazzlingly-lit lectern. Each vied to be heard, to land a rehearsed-but-nifty line to be shared by supporters on social media, then beg for online donations to keep them running for another month. Each took a turn to explain why he or she would do best in smiting Donald Trump before somehow “healing” the nation.
In reality, just four candidates dominate the Democratic race. Judged by polling data, fundraising, betting odds, attention in the press and so on, that pack has looked unchanging for months. Joe Biden, despite not raising much money of late, and Elizabeth Warren remain the front-runners. Both played the night cautiously and were relatively subdued; neither aimed a meaningful blow at the other, despite speculation that Mr Biden would strike hard at Ms Warren’s health-care plans.
Get much beyond those four, however, and it is not clear why the party drags on these large-scale auditions. After the Georgia debate it is impossible to take seriously the notion that Tulsi Gabbard could ever be the Democrats’ choice. At one point she descended into a bizarre spat with Mr Buttigieg, alleging he had a plan to send American soldiers to fight drug cartels in Mexico.
Two lower-tier candidates did have a good night. Amy Klobuchar found her voice in a way she has struggled to do before, for example in discussing abortion and women’s rights. The Minnesotan is trying to present herself as a centrist figure from the Midwest with a record of winning elections, who brings more experience than Mr Buttigieg. She might gain a little traction.
Among the leaders the lack of drama in Georgia probably best suited the two centrists—Messrs Biden and Buttigieg. In the first debates, starting back in June, there was much radical talk of abolishing borders, doing away with immigration enforcement and rolling out free medical care for all. Neither of these men looked comfortable then, as candidates competed to appear as the most progressive figure possible. Instead Ms Warren’s popularity rose.
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